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“I brought snacks!” Sabito’s cheerful voice announced his arrival. Tomioka waved him over and took a seat on a log, the shade from a nearby tree spotting his skin and clothes. Sabito sat next to him, their knees brushing as he handed Tomioka his onigiri. They ate in a comfortable silence, simply enjoying each other’s company. “It's really nice out today.” Sabito spoke quietly, looking up at the bright blue sky. Tomioka hummed in agreement, discreetly watching as the sun lit up Sabito’s peach-coloured hair and surrounded him in a soft glow. In the light he was almost angelic, and Tomioka sometimes felt the strange need to touch him, just to make sure he was really there. Sabito really was something special.
“Giyuu.” Tomioka snapped out of his daydream, turning his attention to his friend. “Do you wanna spar?” He smiled and nodded. “I’ll race you to our usual spot!” He pushed his thoughts away and ran, trying to get a head start. He felt the wind in his hair and laughter bubbling up in his chest. He hadn't even realized that he'd been holding his breath.
A light step rushed past him and for a moment Tomioka’s eyes saw nothing but the yellow, green, and orange of a pattern so familiar he could trace it with his eyes closed. He heard Sabito’s laughter as he ran past, easily beating Tomioka to their location. Sabito was always faster but it didn't take any of the fun away. Tomioka knew that Sabito would win their spar too. But it barely mattered.
Of course he wanted to get stronger (since Sabito was already so strong and so cool, and he wanted to catch up) but sometimes Tomioka just wanted to be a kid; he wanted to hang out with his friend and laugh as they fought, ignoring the fact that they were training to kill demons and put their lives on the line.
Or maybe he just wanted to be with Sabito more.
It really didn't help his confusion when Sabito would offer him a hand and a soft smile, raising him up after their spar, and Tomioka would get a weird feeling in his chest. It didn't help at all when Sabito would sit next to him during meals, their shoulders bumping playfully. And it certainly didn't help when Sabito would hold his hand on nights when he couldn't sleep, haunted by memories of the past.
Tomioka wasn't stupid (or at least, most of the time) and he knew what a crush was. He just hadn't really felt it before. It wasn't as fluttery and warm as his sister used to say; it was heavy on his heart and it made his palms sweat and it made him choke a little every time Sabito took his breath away. Which was a lot.
Like now, as Tomioka finally reached their usual sparring spot only to trip over a tree root, and Sabito quickly broke his fall. By jumping in front of him. They tumbled a little and landed in a pile, wheezing and laughing. And Tomioka felt Sabito’s hand in his hair and he managed to look up at him, only to be met with that signature soft smile; the one that always made Tomioka pause, just for a second.
“Oh Giyuu, you've got leaves and branches all over you…” Sabito said quietly. Tomioka froze up as his friend leaned in close and started plucking pieces of the mountain floor out of his hair. Sabito was close, close enough that Tomioka could practically feel his hair against his cheek. Close enough that he could count every eyelash. Close enough that he didn't dare breathe, out of fear that if he let his guard down for even a second, he might kiss his best friend.
He was pulled out of his thoughts as Sabito suddenly cupped his face in his hands, looking at Tomioka with a worried expression.
“Are you feeling alright? Your face is all red.” Sabito felt his forehead, leaning in somehow even closer. “I really hope you don't have a fever.”
Tomioka couldn’t meet his eyes. “I-I’m fine.”
Sabito certainly didn’t look as though he believed him but he didn’t ask any further. He didn’t remove his hands, however, and Tomioka could feel his heart racing. Sabito was looking at him far too intensely. He bit the inside of his cheek and hoped that Sabito wouldn’t notice how hard he was sweating.
And then Sabito kissed him.
Tomioka froze. Sabito was kissing him and his hair was tickling Tomioka’s neck and yet he couldn't bring himself to move a muscle. Every thought in his mind was washed out by the sound of blood rushing in his ears.
All too quickly, Sabito was pulling away, his eyes wide in disbelief of what he'd just done. Tomioka could feel his face burning.
“Oh.” Sabito’s voice cracked. “I, uh...I think I can hear Urokodaki calling for me. I’d better- I gotta go. Um, bye.” Sabito scrambled to his feet and started to run off but Tomioka suddenly moved faster than he thought possible and grabbed his ankle. Sabito yelped as he planted face first into the ground. Tomioka quickly crawled over to him and flipped him over, pinning him by his shoulders.
“You can't just run off like that! A-After what you just did!”
Sabito covered his face with his hands. “I wasn't thinking! I'm sorry, I didn't even...I don’t know if you feel the same and I was just stuck in the moment and I-”
Sabito suddenly groaned in aggravation and gripped Tomioka’s collar. Tomioka’s breath caught in his throat—Sabito was blushing harder than he'd ever seen before.
“Why do you have to be so cute? That's so not fair!”
Tomioka blinked. “W-Wait, wait, wait, what are you-”
“Giyuu, please don't make me say it again.”
Sabito avoided his gaze, blushing somehow even deeper. His grip on Tomioka’s collar loosened. Tomioka felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. Sabito...thought he was cute. Sabito had kissed him. Tomioka’s head spun; Sabito had feelings for him. Before he could stop himself, the words were tumbling out of his mouth.
“I like you too, Sabito. Like, a lot.”
Sabito looked up at him, eyes wide. “So.. it's okay that I kissed you?”
Tomioka nodded emphatically. Sabito took a deep breath before speaking quietly.
“Then...can I do it again?”
Tomioka’s mouth was on his before Sabito could even finish his sentence. He was probably being over eager but he could hardly bring himself to care. Sabito clearly didn’t mind either, as he kissed him back with a smile on his lips. Then Sabito wrapped his arms around him and pulled him to the ground, laughing as Tomioka landed on top of him. He kept laughing even as Tomioka pulled at his hair, his face red.
“Hey, no fair! I’ve been waiting forever to do that!” He huffed and pinched Sabito’s cheek. His friend just grinned back at him.
“I’m not going anywhere, Giyuu.”